Human Rights Tracker Scotland: Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA)

Executive summary

The Human Rights Tracker Scotland (the Tracker) will be an accessible online platform that presents recommendations from international human rights treaty bodies and provides information on any relevant action taken and outcomes, with the aim of further enabling strategic and coordinated action in devolved areas. It will enable the Scottish Government and others to review recommendations in the round and consider strategic, coordinated action. Over time, the aim is to enhance the ability of National Human Rights Institutions, the Scottish Parliament, civil society, rights-holders and treaty bodies to better scrutinise any relevant action taken and outcomes achieved. The Tracker will be delivered in a phased way with the March 2026 release providing an accessible interface that presents recommendations, with tagging to improve searchability.

An EQIA has been undertaken to consider the impacts on those with protected characteristics. Evidence indicates that the tool is likely to have a neutral direct impact, though it could have a positive indirect impact on many characteristics by increasing transparency and enhancing implementation efforts. Some groups that experience higher levels of digital exclusion may experience barriers to accessing the Tracker. There is evidence that disabled people, older people, children, older women and some racialised minorities are more likely to have limited access to the internet, limited digital skills and limited access to digital devices.

Alongside national programmes that improve access to devices, skills and internet connection, the Tracker will be developed using inclusive design principles, with accessibility features and will be compatible with mobile and desktop devices. Further to this, an accessibility audit and user testing will be carried out with stakeholders connected to relevant protected characteristics, including through the Tracker Design Group.